Bazza’s match report from the weekend game.

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Spring has sprung and bright sunshine greeted us on Saturday for the visit of the Canaries to St Andrews. I felt a little apprehensive about this fixture as my mind couldn’t help going back to the same match just over two years ago when on a midweek evening in the first few weeks of the season Blues contrived to dish up the worst performance I had witnessed in over 35 years! We lost 1 – 0 that night in a dire match fully contributed in good measure by our opponents just in case any were running away with the idea that Blues were wholly culpable.

Rather than just describe events as they unfolded I thought I’d seize upon the comments of the respective managers since their views make for a more interesting slant on matters. Firstly Alex McCleish stated that Blues had got off to a slow sluggish start despite everything that had been discussed in the dressing room. He is dead right there! Sadly the temper of the performance was dictated by the sort of opening that we have witnessed far too often this season. There was I thinking that Blues were at last getting it together at just the right time after encouraging matches against Bristol City, Nottingham Forest and Doncaster last week. Norwich had conceded 32 goals away from home this season almost two per game on average and there is no doubt that they are where they are because of their defensive frailties. I was surprised that Big Eck did not start with the side he fielded last week at Doncaster. 4-5-1 can be attacking providing the wide players get up quickly to support the lone striker. He instead opted for 4-4-2 sacrificing Fahey for the extra attacker, O’Connor up front. I feel this was a mistake since Norwich, despite their lowly position, play neat attractive football and of course proceeded to out pass us in the early stages in midfield as we had got rid of the one really creative midfielder to accommodate the extra forward.

Bryan Gunn said that he was disappointed to be 1 – 0 down at half time since his team had dominated the game for 44 minutes, created the better chances and the goal should not have stood since Jerome had clearly impeded the keeper and the goal would have been disallowed 99.9% of the time. He concluded that the officials had been poor. Let’s take these points one at a time:

Dominated the game for 44 minutes? I don’t think so but he is partially right in that Norwich had far more easy possession than a side sitting in the promotion places should have allowed them. The game over the whole period was more evenly balanced than Gunn suggests but he would say that wouldn’t he?

Created better chances? Certainly! Alan Lee missed a sitter in the first couple of minutes from four yards when it was easier to score and a couple of minutes later Norwich had the ball in the net from a far post header only to have the effort disallowed. This decision although correct was very tight and we were extremely fortunate to get away with it. Gow also produced a scare pulling a cross shot across the line only a yard out. It needed a touch from a colleague to seriously wreck the afternoon.

Jerome’s goal should have been disallowed? Not on your life! I’ve looked at the replay numerous times on the recording I took from this morning’s Championship programme on ITV. Jerome gets in front of the Norwich keeper, Marshall and jumps to head the ball cleanly. The keeper tries to snatch the ball off the forward’s head. He’s on the wrong side of him and he’s too late. The ball drops down in front of Cameron Jerome who nets from two yards – appeal denied! Bryan Gunn can have no complaints. The bloodied nose sustained by his goalkeeper was apparently caused by his player accidentally catching Jerome’s studs as he went to ground. Jerome is facing away from the keeper concentrating on the ball; there is little argument for a disallow; goalkeepers get far too much protection as it is!

The officials were poor? Yes they were but for different reasons than those given by the Norwich manager. In the first few minutes of the game Lee catches Ridgewell in the face with a flailing elbow. I’ve once again studied this incident several times and I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Nevertheless, a yellow card should have been produced – no action was taken. What happened just before half time to Franck Queudrue perpetrated by the same player can have no such excuse. He clearly glances towards his target and smashes his elbow into Queudrue’s face! The assistant flags straight away, the referee gives the free kick and delivers a tame yellow card! That was a definite red card offence but of course Bryan Gunn conveniently glosses over that one doesn’t he? It maddens me that managers can find it within themselves to justify the unjustifiable when it suits – disgusting! The game would have been very different had the referee acted properly. He should at least have consulted his assistant who saw the incident clearly as we all did from the terraces.

The second half started a little better for Blues and I felt that we would go on to confirm the win. Norwich were still playing neat tidy football but Blues seemed to be in control. An unfortunate free kick 25 yards out was conceded by Carsley who was a little unlucky when he clipped the heels of Sammy Clingan as he was running away towards the wing. Clingan deftly clipped the free kick over the wall just inside Maik Taylor’s right hand post. It was an absolute beauty; a truly cracking finish and one that one has to admit, deserved. It is not possible to legislate for the perfect strike from a free kick in that position other than to station a full back on the line but this invites opposition forwards to stand in front of the keeper blocking his view and making a thorough nuisance of themselves.
 
Norwich’s equaliser filled them and their massed supporters with confidence and it was time for several more scares including a timely header off the line from Larsson which prevented a winner for the Canaries. Blues regained some modicum of control and huffed and puffed rather disjointedly to re-establish the lead. Sinclair was brought on for Bouazza, Murphy for Queudrue and Phillips for the largely ineffective O’Connor. The big chance arrived in time added on when Murphy dinked a cross from the left; Phillips leapt up like a salmon connecting well with his header. A reaction save from the keeper parried the effort over the bar as the effort was unfortunately too close to him. A couple of feet either side and an undeserved win would have been assured. The chance was gone and with it two points.

Another thing that Bryan Gunn said was that he felt his team should have been leaving with all three points. We could not have complained if that had been the case but on balance the result was probably fair. This was overall a bad day at the office but it could have been worse. We have to work harder, press the ball and establish a much higher tempo similar to the matches that preceded this one if we are to make any impression on some team called Wolverhampton Wanderers who are next up.

No problem there then!

KRO SOTV